51猎奇入口

This blog contains excerpts of an interview with Irina Borgos, Housing Policy Coordinator at Musqueam Indian Band. She is a former CERi Research Assistant with the 312 Main Research Shop. During her RAship, Borgos helped to create the x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m Housing Community Engagement Handbook鈥�. 

Community-engaged research (CER) often begins with optimism and a shared goal: to build knowledge in partnership with communities, not apart from them. Yet, as Irina Borgos discovered during her time with the 312 Main Research Shop, this work is rarely straightforward. Compared to traditional academia, it requires building relationships, dealing with uncertainty, and diligence. For Irina, that is precisely what makes it meaningful.

Hired to help the x史m蓹胃kw蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam) Indian Band鈥檚 Housing Department's community engagement efforts, Irina鈥檚 position was originally focused on the Housing Department鈥檚 energy efficiency program, but this was short-lived. 

鈥淎t first, I thought my role would be limited to supporting the energy efficiency program and helping where needed. But as things progressed, I found myself taking on more initiative and direction than I expected. It evolved into something different. So, while we might not have met the exact objectives we started with, I think what we produced in the end was very worthwhile.鈥� (Irina)

In the end, Irina, along with CERi Research and Engagement Manager Tara Mahoney, created the x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m Housing Community Engagement Handbook鈥�. The handbook offers evidence-based strategies for community engagement, grounded in best practices, and provides guidance on how to engage respectfully, build trust, and contribute to relationships rooted in respect and reciprocity. 

鈥淓ngaging directly with people鈥攈earing their perspectives and reflecting on them鈥攔eally shaped the outcome. The handbook became what it is through that process: drawing on academic sources and professional handbooks but also incorporating insights from people working in housing. It wasn鈥檛 just about expert knowledge鈥攊t was about combining those different viewpoints.鈥� (Irina)

The full handbook can be read here. 

The finished handbook was the culmination of a long and arduous journey. Irina鈥檚 experience of the 312 Main Research Shop highlights a reality of community-engaged research people may not think about 鈥� it鈥檚 often complicated, unpredictable, and difficult.

One of the major difficulties Irina encountered was the unstructured nature of the work. This involved a tricky balancing act of ensuring that she was working within her limits but also meeting what was being asked of her. 

鈥淚 sometimes felt like I was running the project myself, even though my role was meant to be as an assistant. For some people, that might have been exciting or energizing, but for me, it was a bit overwhelming. I only had about 15 hours a week to devote to the project, and it was hard to manage that responsibility with limited time and guidance.鈥�  (Irina)

For aspiring community-engaged researchers, Irina鈥檚 tenure with the 312 Main Research Shop demonstrates the commitment and dedication it takes to do this work. To those interested in applying to the 312 Main Research Shop, Irina urged prospective researchers to consider the importance of understanding what comes with community-engaged research, and to cautiously move forward while being prepared for periods of self-guidance, intricate webs of communication, and immense dedication.  

鈥淚鈥檇 say one of the best parts for me was being reminded of how much knowledge and strength exists within communities. There鈥檚 so much power and potential there, and when you鈥檙e able to genuinely connect with people in that way, it can lead to some really meaningful and exciting work.鈥�

Moving forward, Irina is continuing with Musqueam Indian Band鈥檚 Housing Department as the Housing Policy Coordinator. Irina鈥檚 experience demonstrates the real-world circumstances of doing community-engaged work.  She reminds researchers to be flexible, reflective, and open to uncertainty 鈥� to let relationships and real-world contexts shape the work. While the process was challenging, Irina remarked that her experience with the 312 Main Research Shop left her moments of deep learning and connection that can鈥檛 be replicated in more traditional research settings. The x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m Housing Community Engagement Handbook stands as a testament to that process: a product of collaboration, care, and commitment to doing research with communities, not just about them.